Are y’all getting clobbered by that storm system? You might need more beer to deal with it.
Gotta love our fingerless brothers in South Carolina…
1 Like
2 Likes
If I keep drinking…I might find myself a Whistling Bunghole… 
2 Likes
I’m fairly certain that’s illegal in North Carolina. Thanks, McCrory.
1 Like
I get around that regulation by using a super high pitch Whistling Bunghole…only dogs can hear it…
1 Like
Getting ready to bring up the rear of the 48th annual Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, now billed as the world’s largest 10k. Looking back, I ran my first one at 23 years old in 1980, and haven’t missed that many over the years. It’s not so much an athletic event for me as a social one these days, but for sure I feel very fortunate to be running it 37 years on.
Technology being what it is today, my wife was able to track my location on her iPhone. I received a call right as I crested cardiac hill at about the 5 mile mark. She says, “Please move to the right of course if you’d like to see your children.”
After the race, a few beers, a big lunch, and a long nap, we opted taking the kids to see Despicable Me 3 (two thumbs up). The local precip threatened any attempt at catching one of the large organized fireworks displays.
When we got home, the rain had subsided enough for the neighbors to renew the celebration with vigor. What ensued was an impressive, if somewhat unorganized launch of pyrotechnics. That along with sparklers on the deck, made for a pretty good show for 4 and 6 year olds.
Later my wife and I reflected that we have a lot to be thankful for.
5 Likes
I was sweating before I even started my commute. Temperature at 16°C and very damp air because of a thunderstorm that passed during the night. Riding through the fog was like going through a curtain of water. You could feel the droplets setting on your skin.
4 Likes
Thursday night was crazy. It was extremly bright from all the lightning that was going on.
1 Like
Yep, thunder-lights kept being lit restricting all platform work! Unfortunately meant that the aircraft we were waiting for didn’t come in, and with the holiday rush in full swing there’s not much you can do then!
1 Like
So last night I was out on a trip that dispatched around 8PM. We had a good plan - fly up to Beckley, WV, squeeze in before a line of weather came through, then put the nurses into slow-motion mode to extend our ground time out until a fast moving squall line came through. Thus, we’d be able to “back side” the front since we had to go to Cincinnati which was on the other side of the tight looking line of storms. It was one of those frontal systems that has a long tail and it just makes it really hard to get on the other side of it. Coupled with the fact we were only flying some 200NM or so, and you can’t even climb enough to top over it. Anyway…our plan worked great…we waited, front passed, and we head clear sailing to Cincy.
While we were waiting though…a cargo operator (the cloth from which I was originally cut) was loading up his Shorts 360 (callsign “Night Cargo”) for his flight from Beckley to Louisville (SDF) - likely a feeder for that UPS hub there in Louisville. We watched him takeoff about five minutes before the heavens opened up and the cold guest front wind kicked up. Watching him go on Flight Aware…we were rooting for him as we were waiting. The Shorts isn’t a fast airplane (this from a person who sympathizes…but the shorts is REALLY not fast…) and we watched him tracking in near realtime on the flight tracking page.
Being a former night freight pilot in my past life…we were talking about when he’d make the decision to turn north and penetrate the line. It’s funny…because sometimes single pilot planes will do that…but multi-member crews you are responsible for other lives…and (thankfully) you have time to talk out things and reinforce making the right decision (usually…but not always). There was a very tiny weak spot in the line…and they took a look by turning north and probably putting their radar on it (they probably didn’t have XM WX) but they didn’t like what they saw. So they just kept flying, and flying westbound…paralleling the line, no doubt watching the lighting light up the towering cumulus of their right. Hoping they’d find a gap. But it wasn’t to be. After an hour + 38 min of flying…he gave it up and made the smart decision of landing in Bowling Green. UPS would have to send a truck down to grab his cargo (which probably means it would miss that night’s sort at the facility). But man…I’ve been there…and it sucks when you can’t get to where you want to go, but the alternative isn’t acceptable. 
3 Likes
Hear hear, I can sympathise, we were enjoying the thunderstorms darting past on a bench outside that night and we saw a plane fly a rather… direct route over the airport, it was obvious that he was trying to circle around the thunderstorms for a approach!
I also think the lightning strike checks that could have been required might have put off some of the aircraft from pushing through. You don’t want to ground a charter jet right now when the summer holidays are getting into full swing!
To be honest, the thunderstorms were mighty enjoyable on the ground… Not sure if I should feel bad for those caught up in the air or stuck just before deboarding 
1 Like
That is truly miserable stuff (from a passenger standpoint). Especially if it is a long line/train of thunderstorms and the ramp is “RED”. You are just stuck out there waiting on a gate and nobody can move. That can go on for hours…
1 Like
Oh yes, wouldn’t want to be caught inside that plane then!
